Security Software for Mobile Devices Gets Serious as Threat Grows

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To put a new twist on an old ad campaign, viruses aren't just for
Windows machines any more.

Malware, phishing attacks and Trojans are following the money —
which means following the users and taking aim at more mobile
platforms. Those targets now include Apple's iOS, Google's
Android operating system, popular social-networking sites and
even Nokia’s soon-to-be defunct Symbian OS.

According to a recent report from security software vendor
McAfee,
mobile malware increased 46 percent from 2009 to 2010, and
55,000 new malware threats are emerging every day.

Fortunately, security firms aren't standing still, said Catalin
Cosoi, head of the online-threats lab at Bucharest, Romania-based
security company BitDefender.

There are at least a dozen new programs that are designed to
protect smartphone owners, ranging from simple smartphone
location-and-wipe services to virus scanners and text blockers,
with an increasing emphasis on the
Android platform.

AVG: The Czech company offers a free AVG
Antivirus program for Android phones and a $9.99 Pro version that
scans handsets, warns of potentially unsafe settings and offers
remote location should the phone be lost.

BitDefender: The company offers BitDefender
Mobile Security for Nokia's Symbian phones and Windows Mobile 6
phones, and has an almost-finished “beta” version of SafeGo for
Facebook available to help social-network users avoid malware
attacks.

BullGuard: The Danish firm offers Mobile
Security 10 for $29.95 for Android users, as well as versions for
Symbian, BlackBerry and Windows Mobile 6 handsets. Features vary
depending on the OS, but usually include anti-virus and
anti-spyware tracking and parental controls that can be used to
block texts and spam.

Lookout: Lookout Mobile Security is available
for Android, Blackberry and Windows Mobile phones. A free version
includes a lost-phone location service, backup and scanning that
analyzes apps as you download them. A premium version with more
features is available for the Android platform for $29.99 a year.

McAfee: McAfee Mobile Security for Enterprise is
designed for corporate IT departments with phones running Windows
Mobile 5 or 6. It offers complete scanning and works to prevent
threats from spreading wirelessly onto an enterprise network. For
individual users, there's McAfee WaveSecure for Android,
Blackberry, Symbian, and Windows Mobile phones.It does not
include a scanner, instead focusing on backing up data and wiping
lost or stolen phones for $19.90 a year.

Norton: Norton Mobile Security for Android
phones is in downloadable beta now. Like the already available
Norton Smartphone Security for Symbian and Windows Mobile 5 or 6,
it includes anti-theft features, anti-malware and virus scanning,
as well as text message and call blocking.

Trend Micro: The Japanese company's Mobile
Security for Android is a $3.99 anti-phishing and call- and
text-blocking app that doesn't yet include a phone-location
service.

While there's a large number of programs for Android phones,
experts continue to assert that the platform isn't any more
vulnerable than other mobile operating systems.

Many security firms are working to add support for Apple's mobile
products as well. For example, Zscaler just announced Zscaler
Mobile, which adds support for corporate-network-connected
iPhones, iPads and Android devices to its enterprise products.

Nevertheless, the popularity of apps is contributing to the
increased threat of infection since most users rarely bother to
read the requested permissions each app requires.

This can lead to SMS threats wherein the malicious software
contacts premium numbers (incurring charges) and transmits
confidential information, such as passwords and account numbers,
to hackers.

Most consumers are familiar with e-mail-based threats. However,
many don't understand that the same threats exist in the mobile
and social-networking sphere.

Analysts say the latter is especially worrisome since people who
use services such as Facebook assume that the well-known
corporate logo implies that a system is free of possible viruses
or hacking attacks.

"Users made a lot of progress in the last few years in terms of
education regarding computer malware and spam," said
BitDefender's Cosoi. "The problem is that they have to do this
all over again, since the threats are changing and evolving."